Device for acupuncture

ABSTRACT

An acupuncture device includes a ring-shaped holder having a pressure plate from which a pressure element projects. The ringshaped holder is adapted to be placed on a person&#39;&#39;s thumb and to be used to engage a part of the user&#39;&#39;s body to thereby effect self-applied acupuncture.

Unlted States Patent [1 1 1111 3,923,064 Leupold 1 Dec. 2, 1975 [54] DEVICE FOR ACUPUNCTURE 3,126.890 3/1964 Deming, Sr. 128/361 3,687,139 8/1972 P irier I. 128/329 X [76] Inventor: Karl Hem Leulmkh Gudrunstrasse 3,749,099 7/1973 C otey .1 128/329 x 41. 85 Nurnberg, Germany [22] Filed y 24 I974 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 261,033 10/1928 Italy 63/1 R [21] Appl. No.: 491,185

Primary ExaminerChanning L. Pace [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Attorney. Agent. or FirmFrank J. Jordan May 17, 1974 Germany .7 2424219 [57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl 128/329 A 51 Int. cl. A61B 17/34 acupuncture devlce includes a "fig-shaped holder 5 Fie|d of Search 63/1 15, 1545. 1550; having a pressure plate from which a pressure element 128/329, 333, 361 projects. The ring-shaped holder is adapted to be placed on a persons thumb and-t0 be used to engage [56] References Cited 21 part of the users body to thereby effect self-applied UNITED STATES PATENTS awpuncmre' 2,584,087 1/1952 Barbieri 63/1 R 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec.2,1975 3,923,064

1 DEVICE FOR ACUPUNCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION the human body, the so-called meridians. Point Dil is also called the masterpoint of toothaches". It is located very closely to the outer rim of the cuticle of the index finger and on the side of the index finger which is close to the thumb. This acupuncture point shows properties which, like each other principal point, allows a direct influence upon definite organs of the body, in this case, the teeth. The stimulation of this principal point releases or causes positive or negative reactions.

Acupuncture uses fine punctures at spatially, exactly defined points of the skin in order to stimulate by such actions certain reflexes. Acupuncture generally has to be performed by an expert. However, in order to make better use of the successes of this mode of treatment, it has been found that application of an external influence upon certain principal points yields the expected reaction, although in some cases with a reduced effect.

One means to reach this objective is the point massage or pressure, which is simple and absolutely harmless, and may be used by any person on him or herself. This method may be preferably used on point Dil in the case of toothaches. The treatment of this principal point is an ever present aid to alleviate an acute toothache efficiently even during treatment by a dentist.

Accordingly, there is a need for a device, instrument or other contrivance which may be used by anyone, even by an uninstructed person, on oneself without danger and thus without any damage to the skin. According to the present invention, this need is met by providing a ring-shaped holder which may be placed over the thumb and which is provided with an external pressure plate which is arranged across the plane of the holder, such pressure plate being furnished approximately at its center with a short projection in the form of a pressure element.

The present invention has an advantage as regards the fact that the patient or person to be treated does not always have a hand free with which he could treat the other hand. Such an action would be disturbing in many cases, for example during treatment by a dentist. On the other hand, the anatomical opposition of the thumb and index finger makes it possible to place the device of the present invention upon the thumb which is vicinal to the index finger to be treated or reacted upon, and thus to massage or apply pressure, by means of the pressure disposed on the pressure plate, on the oppositely situated point Dil on the external rim of the cuticle of the index finger. Thus the user or patient is able to exert pressure upon a narrowly circumscribed area or point according to the intensity of the pain. He may also ascertain by himself that no perforation of the skin or any other damage occurs. This is also assured by the construction of the device of the present invention.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the holder consists of a slit ring which may be slipped easily upon thumbs of different thicknesses. It may be preferable to construct the legs of the slit ring to provide resiliency or elasticity in order to further improve this effect. It would suffice therefore to prepare the device in two different sizes so that all sizes may be covered.

It is within the purview of the present invention to furnish the pressure plate with a recess within which the pressure element is arranged. The rim which surrounds this recess is adapted to contact those parts of the fingers which are vicinal to the considered principal point and thereby prevent the pressure element from acting too strongly upon the skin.

In a further embodiment of the present invention the point of the pressure element is dull or rounded so that the danger against injury is assured even when the device is handled thoughtlessly. Due to its construction the device annot be used on other points of acupuncture so that its use cannot take place on points which need an expert.

The device of the present invention for the practice of acupuncture on point Dil is made of plastic because such material is germane to the aim of the invention which follows the practice of the field of dentistry. However, the device of the present invention may also be made from metal and in some cases at least, the pressure element may be made of a precious metal.

- Other features which are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described in relationship to specific embodiments, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An acupuncture device includes a ring-shaped holder adapted to be placed on a persons thumb. The holder has means defining a pressure plate from which a pressure element projects. The pressure element is adapted to engage a part of the users body to thereby effect self-applied acupuncture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an acupuncture device according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the acupuncture device taken transversely of the longitudinal axis.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing an alternate embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the acupuncture device in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The acupuncture device consists of a holder 1 generally in the shape of a finger ring and having a slit 2 as shown in the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2. The holder 1 has two legs 3 which narrow down towards the slit 2. The holder 1 includes in its center, somewhat like a signet ring, a pressure plate 4 which when viewed from the top, has the configuration of a circle, a longitudinally oval, or in its narrow dimension an oval, or also a polygon or other configuration. The pressure plate 4 is in the form of a flat depression 5. A cone-shaped pressure element 6 rises from the center of the recess 5 with the tip 7 of the pressure element 6 being rounded. This tip 7 projects slightly above the level of the pressure plate 4.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the pressure element 6 is made of the same material as the ring-shaped holder 1. Alternatively, the pressure element 6 may consist also of a preshaped part 8, either metallic or sometimes also made of precious metal. In this alternate arrangement, the preshaped part 8 may be connected or affixed permanently to the plastic holder 1 during the molding process for making the plastic holder 1. For this purpose the part 8 may have a widened flange 9 at its base about which the plastic of the holder 1 is molded as shown in FIG. 3.

When in use the holder 1 is placed upon the thumb 10 until it obtains there a solid seat. The holder 1 is oriented so that the pressure plate 4 is located on the interior side 12 of the thumb 10 which is opposed to the index finger 11. The pressure element 6 rising from the pressure plate 4 is brought closely to point Dil 13 which is situated closely below the rim of the cuticle of the index finger 11 and on which point 13 massage or pressure is desired. While this is being done, the ring or border portion 14 which surrounds the recess 5 of the pressure plate 4 rests upon the skin which surrounds the point 13 of the index finger 11, thereby preventing the unwanted penetration of the pressure element 6.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangements of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form heretofore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

What we claim is:

1. An acupuncture device comprising a ringshaped holder adapted to be placed on a user's finger. said holder having means defining a rigid pressure plate disposed in a plane extending generally transversely of said ring-shaped holder, said holder further having a rim portion surrounding said pressure plate such that said pressure plate is located within a depression in said holder. said rim having an outer terminating edge, a pressure element located generally in the center of said pressure plate and projecting generally perpendicularly therefrom, said pressure element having a dull or rounded point which protrudes beyond said plane defined by the terminating edge of said rim, said device being adapted to effect self-applied acupuncture by placing said ring-shaped holder on one finger and applying said pressure element to the users body such that said dull or rounded point engages the users body to apply pressure thereto while said rim serves to prevent undesired penetration by limiting the extent to which said dull or rounded point engages the users body.

2. An acupuncture device according to claim 1 wherein said holder and pressure element are made of plastic.

3. An acupuncture device according to claim 1 wherein said holder and pressure element are made of metal.

4. An acupuncture device according to claim 1 wherein said pressure element is made of precious metal.

5. An acupuncture device according to claim 1 wherein said holder and pressure element are made of different material, and means affixing said pressure element to said holder. 

1. An acupuncture device comprising a ring-shaped holder adapted to be placed on a user''s finger, said holder having means defining a rigid pressure plate disposed in a plane extending generally transversely of said ring-shaped holder, said holder further having a rim portion surrounding said pressure plate such that said pressure plate is located within a depression in said holder, said rim having an outer terminating edge, a pressure element located generally in the center of said pressure plate and projecting generally perpendicularly therefrom, said pressure element having a dull or rounded point which protrudes beyond said plane defined by the terminating edge of said rim, said device being adapted to effect self-applied acupuncture by placing said ring-shaped holder on one finger and applying said pressure element to the user''s body such that said dull or rounded point engages the user''s body to apply pressure thereto while said rim serves to prevent undesired penetration by limiting the extent to which said dull or rounded point engages the user''s body.
 2. An acupuncture device according to claim 1 wherein said holder and pressure element are made of plastic.
 3. An acupuncture device according to claim 1 wherein said holder and pressure element are made of metal.
 4. An acupuncture device according to claim 1 wherein said pressure element is made of precious metal.
 5. An acupuncture device according to claim 1 wherein said holder and pressure element are made of different material, and means affixing said pressure element to said holder. 